Fisheries dominates leaders retreat at Forum

Fisheries has dominated the leaders retreat of the Pacific Islands Forum meeting being held in the Cook Islands.

The Forum leaders have expressed concern at the ongoing illegal and unregulated fishing it the Pacific Ocean.

New Zealand has committed a further ten million NZ dollars to protecting Pacific fisheries.

The New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key, says that money will be used to maximise the resource.

“I think what’s fair to say by far the topic that got the most debate amongst leaders was really this whole issue of fisheries and of the US treaty that is the biggest resource that the Pacific countries have that’s where they think there is greater opportunity.”

The New Zealand Prime Minister John Key.

Leaders have asked for a science-based action to address overfishing, including measures by the western and Central Pacific fisheries Commission.